35

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respectively. Unfortunately, last winter was one of the wettest ever known in the Auckland Province, and as many of the students had to travel long distances, in some cases over roads which were little better than mud tracks, the attendance at the country classes very much suffered. Thames : Classes, as in the previous years, were conducted at the Manual Training School and al the Kauaeranga Public School, Mr. W. H. P. Marsden acting as Local Superintendent, and discharging his duties in that capacity most successfully. The subjects taught included English, Latin, commercial arithmetic, commercial correspondence, commercial geography, shorthand, typewriting, book-keeping, cookery, dressmaking, millinery, trade drawing, machine construction and drawing, carpentry and joinery, practical mathematics, physical measurements, and singing. The number of individual students in attendance was eighty-one, and the number of class entries was 310. At the examinations held in November and December 138 papers were worked, and ninety successes were obtained. At the end of the session (November) a very successful exhibition of the work done by the students in the dressmaking, millinery, cookery, carpentry and joinery, and other classes was held. Whangarei : Under the local superintendence of Mr. David Grant, who discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner, classes in English, French, book-keeping, commercial arithmetic, shorthand, dressmaking, drawing, painting, building-construction and drawing, carpentry and joinery, and trade drawing were held. These were attended by sixty-eight individuals, the number of class entries being 140. Forty-four students entered for the Technical Examinations, held at the end of the session, and twenty-nine passed. Hikurangi: Classes were held at Hikurangi in English, commercial arithmetic, commercial correspondence, book-keeping, dressmaking, and mining engineering. Twenty-seven students enrolled, and there were fifty-two class entries. These classes suffered more than any others from the inclemency of the weather. Dargaville: Only two classes were held in Dargaville last year —viz., dressmaking and typewriting. Eleven students attended the former class, and twenty-two the latter. Dressmaking and millinery classes: The success which the dressmaking classes, under Miss Bessie Campbell, met with the previous year led to the appointment of Madame Marion Westgarth as itinerant millinery instructor last session. Classes were held at various centres, and in most cases very satisfactory work was done. Auckland Technical College. Day and evening classes were held as in the previous year, the number of individual students having increased from 911 to 1,150. The day classes for boys and girls, which were inaugurated in 1906, continued to make steady progress last session, both as regards numbers and quality of work done. The attendance increased from 83 to 133, of which 61 were girls and 72 boys. Of these, 46 were pupils who had attended the previous year. The object of these day classes is to provide boys and girls who have passed the Sixth Standard of a public school, during the first two years of their attendance at the College, with a sound practical education having a strong bias towards the business of life they are afterwards likely to adopt. At the end of two years the pupils should be well fitted to either enter practical life as apprentices, articled pupils, clerks, &c, and continue their studies at the evening classes of the Technical College; or take up a specialised technical course in the College day classes. The courses of instruction last a ear were-- (1) Science and technological; (2) preliminary commercial; (3) special commercial. The Science and Technological Course is open to boys only, and it is intended specially for those who propose to take up a trade or profession. The curriculum embraces English Composition and literature, practical mathematics, handwriting and commercial correspondence, practical geometry, mechanical drawing, theory and practice of chemistry, theory and practice of physics, manual training (woodwork), manual training (metal-work), health talks, and military drill and marksmanship. In this course particular attention is given to practical science and workshop practice, and it is gratifying to note that employers who have taken pupils as apprentices after they have been with us two years have spoken in high terms of the training the boys have received at the College. The Preliminary Commercial Course, which is open to boys and girls, is intended for those who have definitely decided to enter commercial life as clerks. The subjects taught include English composition and literature, practical mathematics, handwriting and commercial correspondence, commercial geography, drawing and design, business methods and office routine, elementary science, book-keeping, shorthand, typewriting and military drill (for boys), physical culture (for girls). The majority of pupils taking up this course leave at the end of two years, and these readily find employment at salaries varying from £1 to £1 10s. per week. The Special Commercial Course is intended for- students of either sex, who are at least sixteen years of age, and who, having received a secondary education, wish to qualify themselves for positions as shorthand-writers, book-keepers, secretaries, r&c. This course embraces English composition and literature, commercial arithmetic, book-keeping, shorthand, typewriting, handwriting, commercial correspondence, and business methods and office routine. In connection with these day classes I desire to record the fact that the staff and myself have received very hearty and sympathetic cooperation from the parents of the pupils, and that the pupils themselves have shown"great earnestness fti their studies. The work has been carried on in temporary and unsuitable premises and has in consequence been much handicapped therefrom ; but I.feel sure that with the opening of the new College these day classes will be one of the most important features of technical education in this district, and that they will prove of the utmost value to the community. During the past year a special class in woodwork for the boys of the Jubilee Institute for the W a M lnau ? urated at the College. The class, at which thirteen boys attended, was in charge of Mr. A. D. Trendall, and excellent progress was made, some of the work turned out by the pupils being of exceptional merit. r v